HUNDREDS of North-East businesses have been given a glimpse of the opportunities created by the £4.5bn Intercity Express Programme (IEP).

The £4.5bn contract was described as the "perfect project" - bringing thousands of jobs, as well as delivering far-reaching benefits for education, transport and housing.

Around 1,000 people from 600 different companies packed into the Xcel Centre, in Newton Aycliffe, to find out how they could become suppliers to the Hitachi-led Agility Trains consortium.

The majority of the companies attending the open day came from the North-East and North Yorkshire.

They were welcomed by Agility chief executive Alistair Dormer, who said he wanted to "put some faces to the name of Hitachi and Merchant Place Developments", which will oversee the building of the plant.

He added: "We wanted to come and give people the message directly that this is the kick-off of something very, very exciting."

Mr Dormer told companies that Hitachi would like as many of its suppliers to be based locally.

He said: "There's big opportunities for local companies - there's also big opportunities for our existing supply chain to come to Newton Aycliffe."

He reassured businesses that the company was committed to County Durham for the long-term.

Hitachi has signed a 25-year lease for the site of the new plant at Amazon Park, Newton Aycliffe.

However, the Japanese manufacturer aims to bid for further train-building contracts from Britain, as well as mainland Europe.

Mr Dormer suggested this could include the Government's proposed new high speed rail project.

"At this stage I'm really, really optimistic it's going to have a huge impact on the region," he said, adding that he would like the plant to mirror the success of Nissan in Sunderland.

The campaign to bring Hitachi to County Durham was led by Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson.

He described yesterday's event as a fantastic day.

He said the project would have a huge "ripple effect" on the region, adding: "For me it's not just the factory and the jobs.

"It's the knock-on effects of the housing, education, leisure and infrastructure.

"I think this whole area is just going to really flourish in the next ten years.

"This is the home of Hitachi Rail Europe now and I'm really proud of that."

Stewart Watkins, managing director of the Durham County Council-run County Durham Development Company, which organised yesterday's event, described IEP as the perfect project.

He said: "It's perfect because you have the immediate jobs in the Hitachi train manufacturing itself, you have the supply chain jobs that come alongside it that will then catalyze the education skills and training agenda. You then get into housing and transport."

The Government gave the go-ahead for IEP in March.

Work is due to start on building the plant next year, with full production of the Super Express Train starting in 2015.

The first trains will be delivered the following year.